Automatic alarm for sprinkler systems.



L. A. GRIMES.

AUTOMATIC ALARM FOR SPRINKLER SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 8.1 945.

1,186,307; Patented June 6,1916.

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AUTOMATIC ALARM FOR-SPRINKLER SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED lULY 8.1815.

.1 1 86 ,307 I Patented June '6, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

HIIH (25 l/ WI TN I IN VEN TOR z yr 4,4671??? 60 ATTORNEYS L. A. GRIMES.

AUTOMATIC ALARM FOR SPRINKLER SYSTEMS.

APPLICATIONVFILED JULY a.1'915.'

1,186,307; Patented June 6,1916.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

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\ r t 2 0 57 WITNESSES uvmvron ./4G/"zme ATTORNEYS LESTER A. GRIMES, 0F ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

AUTOMATIC ALARM FOR SPRINKLER SYSTEMS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 6, 1916.

Application filed July 8, 1915. Serial No. 38,795.

1 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Lnsr1an A. Gnnrns, a

citizen of the United States, and a resident of Orange, in the countyof Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and Improved Automatic Alarm for Sprinkler Systems, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to fluid distribution systems and has particular reference to.automatic sprinkler systems for the protection of buildings from fire. The novel features of the invention, however, are adapted for various applications.

Among the immediate objects of the invention is to provide connections for a water or other fluid pipe whereby an alarm may be given to the superintendent or other oflicial at any distant place when there i's'an abnormal flow or other condition ofthe fluid in such pipe. p

As applied to the water pipes of sprinkler systems, the primary object is to indicate to the superintendent or other official at said distant point the fact that water is flowing through the pipe and therefore indicating either that there is a break somewhere in the system or that the sprinkler system has become operative by reason of the presence of fire.

A further object of the invention is to provide an attachment of the character indicated for a pipe of any standard size, one portion of 'the attachment being adjustable to accommodate it to different sizes of pipes.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an automatic alarm attachment that will be operative to indicate a flow of water or other fluid in either direction along the pipe. I

Another object of the invention is to provide an alarm ap 'iaratus casing which is tampenproof or so constructed that if the casing be opened by any person. an indication of such fact will be given at the central station. The term central station as used hereinafter will be understood as meaning any ollice or station at which the alarm or 111- diration is to be given according to the design of the apparatus or system.

With the foregc'ng and other obyects in view. the invention consists in the arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed, and while the invention is not restricted to the exact details of -'construction disclosed herein. still for the purpose of illustrating a practical embodiment thereof reference is had to the accompanying draw ngs, in which like reference characters designate the same parts in the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of the. lmproven'ient applied to a fluid pipe;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section substantially on the line of Fig. 1;Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section on the line- 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. is an elevation of the tamper switch;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional detail on the line of Fig.2; FigsG and 7 are perspective views of two of the elements of the diaphragm chamber; Fig. 8 is a diagram of the electric wiring and contacts; and Fig. 9'is a detail on the line 99 of Fig. 1.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, I show at 10 a pipe for theholdmg or conveyance of fluid, such as water, for an automatic sprinkler system in build ings. and by the use of the term water, as used hereinafter, I wish to be understood as covering any species of fluid adapted to flow in either direction in said pipe. At any suitable place in the pipe or coupling 11 connecting adjacent sections of pipe, I secure an automatic switch box or casing 12 having an outlet 13 for the electrical connections. For convenience of description, the casing will be understood as being in upr1ght position and connected through its bottom to the pipe. I wish it to be distinctly understood. however, that the device is adapted for perfect operation irrespective of its relation to the vertical. The bottom of tlcasing has a hub 14 whereby it is connected through screw threads 15 to the upper end of a head 16 of circular form. The head includes a central downwardly projecting shank 17. The head may be secured in any manner to the pipe or con-- plmg 11, but is indicated herein as being connected by means of a thimble 18 tappedrespective 21 and having their curved ends extending oppositely from each other and with the the shanks thereof adjacent the curved ends.

WVithin the casing 12 area pair of diaphragm chambers 25 of any suitable form in cross section, but shown herein as substantially cylindrical and each having one closed or sealed end and having its 'open end fitted with a diaphragm 26 whereby the otherwise open end is sealed or closed. The chambers 25 are arranged with their axes parallel andhorizontal and are rigidly connected-to the bottom ofthe casing. The interiors of 'the chambers are in communication through ports 27 with the respective chambers 20. It will appear, therefore, that the inner surfaces of the diaphragms 26 and the chambers 25 will always be subjected to the static pressure of the water in the pipe 10, and such static pressure will always be the same in both chambers 25.

At 28 are fixed spaced contacts connected to a wire 29 leading to a battery B.

30 indicates a movable contact between the fixed contacts 28 and adapted to engage with either of them but normally out of contact with both. The movable contact is connected by a Wire 31 to the battery through an alarm device indicated as a bell 32 at any desired place. The movable contact 30 is carried by a compound lever mechanism shown best in Figs. 2 and 3. This mechanism comprises a T-shaped rocker 33 pivoted at 34 on a post 35 extending upwardly from the bottom of the casing. The shank of the rocker 33 carries a pin 36 acting in a slot 37 of a second lever 38 pivoted at 39 on a post 40 on the opposite side of the casing. The lever 38 at its free end carries a pin 41 acting in the slot 42 of a third lever 43 pivoted at 44 on the pivot 34 coaxially with the rocker 33. The free end of the last mentioned lever 43 carries a block of insulation 45 to which is connected the movable contact 30. The points 33 of the rocker are associated with the respective diaphragms 26 by the means shown best in Fig. 5, and including for each diaphragm a knuckle 46 pivoted at 47 on the adjacent point 33 and having an axially arranged stem 48 adjustably tapped into the knuckle at one end and carrying a disk 49 at its other end carried by or abutting against the outer surface of made permanent or secure by lock nuts 50.

From the structure set forth, it follows that 1f .the pressures inthe two chambers 25 against the inner surface of the diaphragms become unbalanced from any cause, the rocker 33 will be. moved on its pivot, and such movement, though of slight extent, being multiplied through the other levers 38 and43, will cause the movable contact 30 to engage one or the other of the fixed contacts 28, thereby closing the circuit and ringing the alarm bell 32.

51 indicates another pair of spaced fixed contacts adjacent the contacts 28 and adapted to be engaged individually by a movable contact 52 carried by the block of insulation 45, this action being similar to that described in connection with-the contacts 28 and 30. The fixed contacts 51 are connected to a wire 53 and the movable contact 52 is connected to a wire 54, these wires constituting a circuit for a special instrument as,

for instance, a transmitter. At 55 and 56 a are fixed and movable contact springs, one being connected to a wire 57 and the other to said wire 53. The wires 53 and 57 constitute what may be termed a tamper circuit,

and the springs 55 and 56 are normally in contact with each other, being so held by 8/ lug 58 carried by the cover 59 of the casing. When the casing is opened by releasing the lock 60 and screws 60', the circuit 53, 57 is broken by the separation of the contact springs. Any person at the central station, therefore, will be advised immediately that some one is-tampering with the mechanism;

If, however an authorized person opens the casing, he may again close the circuit even though the casing is left open for inspection or repairs, by means of a do 61 pivoted at 62 adjacent the spring 55 an adapted to-be held elevated, as shown in Fig. 4, by a catch 63 constituting a part of the contact spring 56. The dog in this position bridges the space between the contact springs and thereby closes the circuit. .The dog, however, ex-- system it will occasion a flow of water in the pipe. as, for instance, in the direction of the arrow on Fig. 1, the normal stat c pressure in the diaphragm chamber communicat-' ing with that tube having its inlet pointing in a direction opposite'to the direction of flow of water will be augmented by the pressure incident to the flow, while in the opposite diaphragm chamber the normal static pressure will be diminished by the suction or injector action in the direction of the flow. This causes, therefore, an unbalancingof the pressures in the two diaphragm chambers, with the result that one of the diaphragms will cause the rotation of the rocker and the movement of the contacts 30 and 52 into engagement withone or the other of the fixed contacts ofboth sets, causing the bell 32 to ring and a corresponding action through the circuit 53, 54c.

It frequently occurs that the water in the pipe is caused to move in an abrupt manner causing a sort of hammer. In order to avoid the difiiculty resulting from such'irregularity of flow with a corresponding sudden or irregular vibration of the diaphragms, I arrange in each of the chambers 25 a multiplicity of plates 58 and 58 each having a peripheral flange 59. These plates are shown as circular to correspond with the cross sectional form of the diaphragm chainbers.. Each flange 59-is adapted to receive the next adjacent plate and provides a clear space between the main portions of adjacent plates. The plates 58 are each provided with a single hole 58, and the other plates are each provided with a plurality of holes 58". The holes of adjacent plates are staggered with respect to one another: that is to say, the hole 58 in the plate 58 being the center will alwaysbe out of alinement with both of the holes 58 irrespective of any thought of the operator as to circumferential adjustment or position. In other words, the multiplicity of plates in each chamber 25 constitutes a labyrinth through or along which the fluid pressure is transmitted slowly or gradually and hence overcomes the undesirable rapid vibration I of the dia- 'phragms due to sudden impulses 1n the current of water.

It will be observed that the signal apparatus is designed to be connected directly to I any water or other fluid pipe and is operative direct ly from the current in the pipe in either direction and without the trouble or 1*; pcnse of providing mechanism having either a bypass or a check valve. It is noteworthy, too, that the apparatus does not depend in any manner for its operation upon a circulation of fluid through it, the result being obtained by varying pressures only.

I claim v 1. In a device of the character set forth,

the combination of a pair of independent pressure chambers each having a diaphragm serving to close the same, means to supply variable fluid pressures to the respective chambers from eitherdirection to act upon the inner surfaces of said diaphragms, and movable contact devices adjacent the charmbers set in operation by the unbalancing of the pressures in said chambers irrespective of the direction in which the excess of pressure is applied.

2. In a device of the character set forth, the combination ofa pair of" independent pressure chambers, a pair of diaphragms closing said chambers, means to apply fluid pressure in variable degrees into said chambers, a pair of contacts adjacent the chambers, a T-shaped rocker adjacent the diaphragms, and speed multiplying devices between said contacts and said rocker whereby a slight movement of one of the diaphragms due to unbalancing of the pressures in'the chambers will cause 111 effective movement relatively at the contacts. p

3. In a device of the nature set forth, the

combination of a pairof cylindrical diaphragm chambers having their axes parallel to eachlother, means to introduce pressure fluid into the chambers independently of each other, a pair of diaphragms closing the ends of the chambers, a rocker pivoted adjacent the diapliragms and having an extension between the chambers. connections between the points 'of the rocker and the dia phragmsand serving to hold said extension in mid pbsition, a pair of electrical contacts,

and means between said rocker extension and'the contacts to make thecontacts functional upon a slight movement of the rocker.

4. In adevice of the character set forth,

the combination of a casing, a pair of pressure chambers within the casing, diaphragms connected to the chambers closing the same,

I .I a movable member having ends ad acent the chambers. connections between the ends of" the movable member and the diaphragms. a plurality of pairs of contacts, compound lever mechanism between the movable mem-.

ing and having a pair of chambers therein and also having a shank ex ending toward the support, means surrounding the shank serving to connect the casing and head to the support, said shank having apair of ports communicating individually with said head chambers, a pair of diaphragm chambers within the casing communicating with the respective head chambers, means to convey pressure fluid to said shank ports, and a Series of contacts made operative by variation 1i; pressures in the pairs of pressure cham- 6. In a device of the character set forth, the combination of a casing, contacts therein, a pair of diaphragm chambers, movable con-' nections between the diaphragms and said contacts made functional by variations in pressures in said chambers, a pipe, means to connect the casing to the pipe, and tubular connections between the pipe and the chambers aforesaid, said connections including a pair of tubes adjustable with respect to the pipe whereby itheir open ends may be positioned in theixis of the pipe irrespective of the diameter of the ipe, and means to lock the tubes in adjusted position.

LESTER A. GRIMES. Witnesses:

GEO. L. BEELER, PHILIP D. ROLLHAUS.

Goplen of thin patent may be obtained tor'five cents each, by dressing the "Commissioner 91 Potent,

Washington, D. 0." 

